Q&A: Vaughters’ experience should help Cardinal

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David Bernal / StanfordPhoto.comStanford linebacker James Vaughters, shown during the spring game at Stanford Stadium, is on the preseason Butkus Award list, the award presented to the nationís best linebacker.

Stanford senior linebacker James Vaughters started all 14 games last year, making 36 tackles, 19 solo. Vaughters, who had 4.0 sacks, is on the preseason Butkus Award list, the award presented to the nation’s best linebacker. The 6-foot-2, 258-pound Vaughters, an outside linebacker, spoke to Daily News reporter John Reid after Thursday’s practice.

DN: Talk about going into the season for you, personally.

JV: I’m just trying to fit the best way I can for the defense. Every year we have really good linebacking play with a good pass rush. With our linebacking corps, we’re trying to live up to the standards set before us with players like Chase Thomas, Trent Murphy and Shayne Skov, all really great players.

DN: What can Stanford fans expect out of that defense, which lost some good players?

JV: They can expect a pass rush that is relentless. They can expect good play by our veterans. A.J Tarpley is one of the smartest guys I’ve been around. He gets everyone in place. Henry Anderson is a hard guy to block. Guys like Dave Parry, Aziz Shittu and Blake Lueders are all having really good camps.

DN: How is Kevin Anderson, who came in from Palo Alto High, doing?

JV: We came in together, so it’s cool to see how he has progressed since we’ve been here. He’s quick off the ball and always hustles.

DN: Out of the three losses last year, which was the toughest for you?

JV: It’s hard to pick one because all those games were ones that knocked us back when we’re looked at in a national light. USC always feels like a rivalry game to me.

DN: You’re facing a lot of good teams on the road this year. Is the secret of this year’s team winning the close games?

JV: In past years we’ve always wanted to get to the Pac-12 championship. When you think about the Pac-12 championship, you have to think about the great teams you have to beat. Sometimes, you glaze over some teams that people don’t think are the best. Stanford is always going to get everyone’s best shot, so you have to focus on the team you are playing. Teams will hold plays that you’ve never seen before on film.

DN: It’s easy to look past UC Davis to USC. How do you focus on UC Davis?

JV: We’ll take UC Davis just like we’ll take every other game. We’re focusing on the task at hand right now. We’ll focus on UC Davis when we get to that week.

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